Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Oral Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Oral

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $932 per month in Chiang Mai vs $739 in Oral, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,399 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,107 in Oral, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,866 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,475 in Oral, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 26% more than Oral, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Chiang Mai and Oral are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 32% lower, Oral 46% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿69.5

$8.55 ₸3,835

-75.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.61 ฿655

$34.83 ₸15.6K

-43.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.67 ฿189

$8.59 ₸3,849

-33.99%

Cappuccino

$1.81 ฿60.3

$1.92 ₸861

-5.73%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 ฿25.65

$1.02 ₸458

-24.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ฿11.53

$0.64 ₸285

-45.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 ฿73.9

$0.86 ₸384

156.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.79 ฿127

$1.96 ₸876

93.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 ฿68.4

$1.48 ₸663

38.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.51 ฿50.6

$0.46 ₸208

228.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 ฿46.69

$1.70 ₸763

-17.65%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿75.4

$1.54 ₸689

46.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.19 ฿540

$9.02 ₸4,046

79.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.90 ฿96.7

$4.39 ₸1,969

-33.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 ฿314

$11.03 ₸4,945

-14.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.68 ฿89.4

$1.25 ₸562

114.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 ฿36.37

$2.01 ₸903

-45.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.62 ฿54.0

$2.30 ₸1,031

-29.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 ฿48.74

$3.44 ₸1,542

-57.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 ฿42.65

$0.43 ₸193

197.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 ฿35.31

$0.35 ₸158

202.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.94

$0.67 ₸302

7.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 ฿17.56

$1.10 ₸492

-51.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.23 ฿141

$2.18 ₸979

94.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.29 ฿611

$7.76 ₸3,477

135.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 ฿54.4

$0.65 ₸290

150.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ฿96.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 ฿29.32

$0.21 ₸93.8

319.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.8 ฿1,795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.17 ฿39.14

$0.68 ₸306

72.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿19.30

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.39 ฿79.6

$5.43 ₸2,436

-55.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.45 ฿48.41

$0.60 ₸268

141.67%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.0K ฿701.4K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.4K ฿882.0K

$30.8K ₸13.8M

-14.14%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$63.7 ฿2,125

$83.9 ₸37.6K

-24.16%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$12.89 ฿430

$8.80 ₸3,947

46.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.52 ฿685

$14.70 ₸6,591

39.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$39.02 ฿1,302

$55.6 ₸24.9K

-29.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 ฿131

Cinema Ticket

$6.58 ฿220

$3.29 ₸1,474

100.00%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$784 ฿26.2K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.7K ฿489.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.1 ฿1,840

$33.89 ₸15.2K

62.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.74 ฿826

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.1 ฿3,142

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.0 ฿2,469

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.4K

$280 ₸125.6K

75.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$288 ฿9,620

$212 ₸95.0K

35.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 ฿29.8K

$454 ₸203.4K

96.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$521 ฿17.4K

$312 ₸139.9K

67.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,974 ฿65.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,444 ฿48.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿20.1K

$433 ₸194.0K

39.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chiang Mai: September 13, 2026

Last update for Oral: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $280 in Oral. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 39% higher in Chiang Mai, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $35.00 in Oral. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Chiang Mai vs $196 in Oral – so Oral wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Chiang Mai vs Oral: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Chiang Mai costs about 26% more than Oral, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,398 per month in Chiang Mai and $1,109 in Oral. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Oral, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $932 in Chiang Mai and $739 in Oral. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 23% more in Chiang Mai, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Oral, where all-in costs run around $739, than in Chiang Mai at $932. In Oral it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Oral costs $739 versus $932 in Chiang Mai. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Oral. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.